Oceanography is the application of basic science — physics, chemistry, biology — to study the sea, its living and non-living contents, and how these react with the atmosphere and surrounding land. An oceanographer can work at sea, in a laboratory or at a desk writing research papers. The Bureau of Labor Statistics classifies oceanographers as geoscientists. It reports their 2010 median pay was $82,500 and that jobs in this field will grow by 21 percent between 2010 and 2020.

Physical Oceanography

Physical oceanographers study the movement of currents within the oceans, and how these affect the atmosphere, land boundaries and sea floor. They take measurements of water temperatures, salinities, waves, currents, tides and eddies. They examine current patterns on the surface, within and at the bottom of the sea, how light and sound transmits through the oceans, and how ocean circulation affects atmospheric conditions. Jobs in physical oceanography require a major in mathematics or physics followed by a doctorate and postdoctoral work in an aspect of physical oceanography. Most jobs in this subject are research-related at universities or federal agencies such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The energy, engineering and construction industries employ physical oceanographers to study water current movements and potential erosion around marine structures such as oil platforms and pipelines, as well as coastal structures such as harbor walls, piers and breakwaters.

Bio-oceanography

Bio-oceanography is the study of flora and fauna in the ocean, and how the marine ecosystems react to ocean circulation, atmosphere and the flow of water, sediments or other substances from land into the sea. Research subjects include the harvesting of fish, other seafood and algae from the sea, as well as the effects of pollution. Coastal fish farming has a major effect on marine ecology. Academic institutions and government agencies are the main employers of bio-oceanographers. They also find jobs in the food and fishing industries that need to understand the marine life food chain. These jobs require a degree in biology, physics or chemistry followed by a doctorate and postdoctoral research in a bio-oceanography subject.

Marine Geochemistry

Marine geochemists, or chemical oceanographers, study the chemical composition of sea water and how this affects ocean circulation. They work together with biological oceanographers to study the effects of pollution on marine life, and with physical oceanographers and meteorologists to understand how chemical changes in the oceans impact the atmosphere, weather and climate. They work with geologists to study methane hydrates, crystals embedded in continental shelf sediments that become methane gas in the atmosphere. They investigate their use as a fuel resource and their impact on the global climate. A chemistry major with strong physics and mathematics studies, followed by a doctorate and post-doctoral research in marine geochemistry, are the best qualifications for jobs in this field. As with other oceanography fields, government agencies and academic institutions are the main employers. Other jobs can be found in the food, fishing and energy industries.

Marine Archaeology

Marine archaeologists adapt their expertise in oceanography to study and often recover shipwrecks, monuments and other non-living objects from the sea floor. These oceanographers need a detailed understanding of surface, mid-depth, and deep-water currents at any recovery site, how these currents deposit sediments over the historical objects in question, and how any chemical changes may have occurred. This knowledge contributes to salvaging the object from the sea and preserving it later. Qualifications to work in an oceanography role in marine archaeology would be a math, physics or chemistry degree, with additional coursework in biology and geology, followed by a doctorate in physical oceanography specializing in ocean floor currents. Universities worldwide offer summer courses in marine archaeology techniques that include certification in diving competence. The main employers in this field are marine museums and research institutions. Energy and engineering companies involved in offshore or near-shore construction close to historical sites may employ marine archaeologists on a consultancy basis.

About the Author

Based in London, Maria Kielmas worked in earthquake engineering and international petroleum exploration before entering journalism in 1986. She has written for the "Financial Times," "Barron's," "Christian Science Monitor," and "Rheinischer Merkur" as well as specialist publications on the energy and financial industries and the European, Middle Eastern, African, Asian and Latin American regions. She has a Bachelor of Science in physics and geology from Manchester University and a Master of Science in marine geotechnics from the University of Wales School of Ocean Sciences.